Wilmers Integrity Prize

Say hey to all those heroes who are making our world a better place.

Congratulations to 2022 Wilmers Integrity Prize Winner Max Kenner whose Bard Prison Initiative just received $4.5M in congressionally directed funding to deepen Bard's college-in-prison work across 7 New York State prisons. Yesterday Bard's graduation included 16 students who started with BPI in prison, and 28 students graduating from the Bard Microcolleges.

Bard Prison Initiative Receives $4.5M in Funding - Hudson Valley Press Found on Google from hudsonvalleypress.com

We are thrilled to welcome new members to our board of directors, as announced in today's Berkshire Eagle .

Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize appoints new members to board of directors: Hans Morris, Allison Sagraves, Diana Taylor The Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize was established in honor of the late Robert Wilmers, chairman and CEO of M&T Bank, to recognize and celebrate the ideals represented by his

Robert Chesnut explores how to bake integrity into a company's values in his book, Intentional Integrity, as well as in this Harvard Business Review article: https://hbr.org/2020/07/how-to-build-a-company-that-actually-values-integrity

Sixty years ago today, Jerrie Mock became the first woman to fly solo around the world. Here she is in Saudi Arabia, her single-engine Cessna 180 in the background. When she landed, the crowd of men were puzzled; one of Prince Faisal's guards ran to look inside the cockpit, then shouted to the crowd that there was no man. The crowd erupted on the tarmac, cheering the woman who made history. She wasn't one for speeches, but she was determined, a 38-year-old mother of three who had wanted to fly around the world since she was a girl. She flew 22,860 miles. When she left radio range in the Bermuda Triangle, she heard the operator say: "Well, I guess that's the last we'll see of her." Jerrie Mock's flight took 29 days, ending successfully on April 17, 1964.

Max Ehrmann's Desiderata still has the ring of truth. A poet and lawyer, Ehrmann wrote the poem in 1927, although it is sometimes mistakenly attributed to a 17th century cleric. For almost a hundred years, the poem has "gone placidly amid all the noise and haste," finding peace in silence, and telling us to trust our instincts regarding virtue. The poem was read at Robert Wilmers' memorial service in 2017. Want to know more about the Wilmers Integrity Prize? Click https://wilmersintegrityprize.org/the-prize/application-form/

We are saddened by the passing of Ken Pendery, longtime CEO of First Watch. One of the earliest supporters of the Wilmers Integrity Prize, Ken led by example, and his words are plastered on the walls of the company's home office, serving as a reminder of the corporate values instilled by the beloved hospitality leader: "Culture is integrity. It's honesty. It's respect."

We will miss him.

First Watch Co-Founder, Longtime CEO and Former Chairman Ken Pendery Passes Away at 70 /PRNewswire/ -- His bold words are plastered on the walls of the Florida-based restaurant company's Home Office and serve as a constant reminder and permanent...

Edafe Okporo, on winning the 2023 Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize for his work helping refugees rebuild their lives in new communities, and making a difference.

Three of our prize winners in one place! Edafe Okporo just won for his work, Max Kenner is last year’s winner for and Lundy (2021 Wilmers Integrity Prize winner) leads . Congratulations you amazing people, and thank you for the incredible work you do to enrich our communities nationwide.

We have a winner! Congratulations to Edafe Okporo, founder of Refuge America, who since seeking asylum in the U.S. in 2016 has been working hard to make our communities a safe welcoming place for refugees escaping persecution.

Why we do what we do.
Four years ago, dozens of people and organizations gave generously to create a new prize to honor exceptional individuals who are truly making a difference in our communities. The Prize is named after the late Bob Wilmers, Chairman and CEO of , who believed that it was critical to support and initiate programs that enhance communities where one lives and works, and so many communities have benefited as a result. Stay tuned for this year’s winner, which will be announced Thursday.

Integrity can take many forms. Keeping cool under pressure. Following your compass. Inspiring others with your work, zest for life, and humanity. Cole Brauer just may become the first woman to race solo around the world. She's rounded the Horn. She's past the Cape of Good Hope. She's headed for the Azores and is now on the home stretch, and hundreds of thousands of women, children, and maybe everyone in the State of Maine are cheering her on.

Alone on the Ocean, With 400,000 Friends As Cole Brauer speeds to the finish of a solo race around the world, she is using Instagram to blow up sailing’s elitist image.

Denzel Washington - Actor

Meet our amazing finalists for the Wilmers Integrity Prize. Edafe Okporo is dedicated to helping those seeking refuge from persecution, violence and poverty find a safe place to call home. A global gay rights activist and artist, he founded Refuge America Refuge America with one goal: to provide aid and assistance to displaced LBGTQ people who are not able to return home safely due to circumstances or situations. Born in Nigeria, Edafe Okporo migrated to the United States in 2016 as an asylum seeker and is now a refugee of the United States and one of the country’s most visible voices on the issue of displacement.

Meet our amazing finalists for the Wilmers Integrity Prize. Karen Mack, founder of LA Commons, is part of the glue that binds together the disparate communities of Los Angeles. When she came up with the idea of LA Commons in 2000, she had many relationships but no funding because the idea wasn’t tested. At the time she was VP at Community Partners, an incubator for startups. Her idea was to use art as a vehicle for building a stronger sense of community in LA, but no one understood what she was doing. She persevered, believing there’s logic in the world, and that if you’re on your path, things happen. She also believed that you could have plans to do any number of things, but you have to start doing it to make your idea real. She quit Community Partners in 2000 and got a small grant to start this new organization. Art as social impact. The rest is history. Winner to be announced March 6.

We're looking for leaders who are working hard to better our communities. People who exemplify integrity in their everyday work. We believe in the power of people to move the dial. If this sounds familiar, we invite you to submit an application, or nominate someone on their behalf. Nominations are open
through August 1, with a winner announced in the fall.

Meet Cheri Garcia, one of our amazing finalists for the 2023 Prize. She is a passionate voice in fair-chance/second chance hiring, offering meaningful work to people returning from incarceration. In 2016, she created Cornbread Hustle, a Dallas staffing agency that has placed 2500 people in jobs. Her first placement was an artist who'd gotten out of jail after 20 years. She showed him how Google works, then called a mural company. "Hey," she said, "I have this guy who’s willing to work for $10/hour. He’s eager. He’s hungry. His work is amazing.’” The owner said, "What’s the catch?" She said, "Well, he just got out of prison for attempted murder, but he’s a nice guy.” She accompanied him to the interview at a restaurant, sitting a few tables away, and the ex-con got hired on the spot. She is utterly dedicated to helping those in recovery or with criminal records get that second chance. Cheri Chafin Garcia thank you for doing such good work.

Cold weather can bring reflection and inspiration.

We are pleased to announce three amazing finalists. Thanks to all those with such stories who nominated heroes or applied themselves. The winner will be announced March 6, 2024.

Congratulations to Cheri Garcia, one of our three finalists. Since 2016, Cheri has helped 2500 people in the Dallas area find their second chance through her work @cornbreadhustle helping people out of prison or in recovery find meaningful employment. The Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize winner will be announced March 6, 2024. #secondchance #secondchances #fairchance #fairchancehiring #wilmersintegrityprize #inspiringwomen #helpingothers #secondchance

Winner will be announced March 6, 2024.

Congratulations to Edafe Okporo, one of our three finalists. Born in Nigeria, Edafe migrated to the US in 2016 as an asylum seeker and today is one of the country’s most visible voices on the issue of displacement, committed to strengthening America as a welcome place for displaced LGBTQ people. The Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize winner will be announced March 6, 2024. #refuge #wilmersintegrityprize #voicesofchange #empowerment #refugeestories #inspiration #newyorkstories #refugeeswelcome #helpingothers

Bob Wilmers was a special man who quietly improved the communities and world in which he lived. Wherever he put down roots, he made sure to cultivate real relationships, support local institutions, and partner with leaders to solve problems. He gave generously to organizations he found important. The Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize was established in honor of Bob Wilmers to recognize and celebrate the ideals represented by his life and legacy as a philanthropist and as an advocate for positive change for the greater good. And yes, he biked to work well into his 80s. Learn more here: https://wilmersintegrityprize.org/robert-wilmers/

Meet our 2021 prize winner Veronika Scott, founder of Empowerment Plan, a Detroit nonprofit breaking the cycle of homelessness by employing women recovering from homelessness to make sleeping bag coats for those in need. Since 2012, Veronika’s company has distributed 76,000 coats and employed nearly 150 formerly homeless women. The prize money helped her grow - she's distributed 20,000 coats since 2021 alone, and is working to expand into a second Michigan city. For more information about the Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize, go to www.wilmersintegrityprize.org

For leaders who are passionate about what they do, click on link in bio. Spotted at

Open call for applications for the Wilmers Integrity Prize! Learn more in the link. Applications due November 25.